Body of Song

My favorite songwriter. If he goes in the studio or onstage and farts, I'll buy it just to see what he's up to (and sometimes it's a klunker). This one came after a klunker so it was all the better. If you love the sound of vinyl, this is worth it, although they probably didn't have to make it a double. It sounds great and you get a free MP3 for your iPod. That's a good deal.

Absolute addition to any fan of Bob Mould or any of his previous recordings. This album is very good and in my opinion the Japanese version sounds even better. This is not a Papersleeve disc as it might appear, but a Jewel case. There are a lot of depressing , but to the point songs on this album. I was blown away by the sound of this as it is the only Bob Mould disc I did not have in my collection of stuff. When I say "Depressing" I mean more like he's letting go of a lot of the feelings of angst and pent up rage that had clouded him since leaving Husker Du.

This is from Bob's second solo career that is still going strong. Just as another member mentioned. The order of Bob Mould's Career starts out with Husker Du, a great band and takes me back to my days as a teen. Then he put out "Workbook" and "Black Sheets of Rain" which to me are both masterpieces in their own right. Then he did his stint with Sugar which I also loved and started a second solo career as Sugar broke up. "The Last Dog And Pony Show" and "Modulate" precede this release. There is also a cd entitled "Long Playing Grooves" that he put out under the sudonymn LoudBomb (or if you rearrange the letters Bob a Mould) Two more interesting albums. These where mostly club music and electronic type music as he was DJaying a lot around New Yorks Gay Scene. This album "Body of Song" is more to his general style of playing. Modulate was sort of experimental , but I love that about Bob Mould. He seems to mature and find his true calling as he releases albums.

This CD is more about heartbreak, breakups and lack of trust and he starts to come full circle with his life as a gay man. This disc is a return to the guitar style that most fans of Bob Mould love. Most people think that he dosent have a great voice, the song "Paralyzed" is an example that , yes , he can sing. The powerful Chorus of this song proves that he is indeed a talented and solid songwriter. The other really great stand out on this album is the song " Days of Rain". This song is about personal relationships, failed attempts at love and well it's not just what I would call Angst, it's true feelings that you just can't fake.

In my opinion this is a true showing of his strengths in songwriting, strengths in vocals and his amazing talent of his incredible and a sentiment of his unmistakeable guitar work that is truly outstanding. This is a solid return of a great musician. The best is the last song on this album ,"Beating Heart The Prize". It polishes off this collection of songs in a the true style of his great guitar playing and shows that things get better as a person ages and matures.

There will be critics that will not like a few of the songs on this album, they are a little reminiscent of Modulate, but overall this is a great return of one of the best and friendliest performers I have ever seen live several times and met in person 3 different times. He's signed several posters, albums,and his book while in Austin doing a book promotion. I was lucky enough to meet him at 16 years old in a aftershow event at D.C.'s 9:30 Club. He was kind of a jerk, but this was when Husker Du was falling to pieces. I dislike Grant Hart very much as he was a real jerk. But I did manage to get out the door with a signed copy of the vinyl album "Flip Your Wig", autographed by Bob and has " Don't Flip Your Wig , Just Yet Kid". My second encounter with him was at Hammerjack's in Baltimore, MD. He was much more mellowed then and friendly, I got a signed Single of " If I Can't Change Your Mind." My last meeting was in Austin at a store called Book People, he was promoting his new book. I had aquired an ARC, Advanced Readers Copy, that usually only a few people receive of the book. It'd a rough draft basically. My partners neice got this from her book company. I also purchased a Hardcover copy as well. He delightfully signed both items for me and we talked for a minute or two as it was nearing the end of the book signing. I told him the 9:30 club story and he actually remembered signing the cover because of what he wrote on it. He then apologized for his manners and I said, well I was 16, you where 26. He then totally shocked me with an invite for me and my partner to see him perform live on Austin City Limits as Guest with "All Access Passes" as well. I gave him one of my business cards and we really got to meet a great performer and super nice guy. I have about 10 different autographed items now from a picture sleeve record,a few posters and albums, to a 10 inch drum head with his autograph and some lyrics scribbled beneath the signature. I also have some great pictures of me and Bob. My parner was jealous, but he has nothing to worry about. 15 years in a monogamous relationship is proof that as much I love Bob Mould, I trulely love my parner with all my heart. Can't wait until he's in Austin again.

Okay, favorites: Circles is a great opener. Paralyzed is easily the best track; completely rocks. Really like Underneath Days, it has a nice dark, brooding quality that I complete appreciate. Days of Rain is a nice quiet track. I also like (Shine Your) Light Love Hope. That one is weird. It's an oddly seducing electronica piece. I do think I prefer the 2012 album as a complete piece of work, but the standouts here are brilliant and make the purchase worth while.

If you liked Mould's 2002 release Modulate, you will be very happy with this CD. It is similar to Modulate. It has a little less experimentation, but the Modulate sound is there. Plus, there is no filler! It's 12 solid tracks! While I think Modulate has the stronger individual tracks (the brilliant "Quasar," for example), Body of Song is a more solid `body of work' if you will because it doesn't contain any filler. I'm stoked Mould is continuing with this experimental sound without going so far as the short sound-effects/background noise. Like on Modulate, most of these tracks are so catchy, I just feel good listening to them. A song will come on and I'd think, "Ah, I love that track," and then the next one will start and I'd think, "Oh, I like this one too!" It has plenty of old school sound yet is exciting and fresh at the same time. Mould also played almost every instrument on these songs including keyboards, "loops," bass, and, of course, features his usual guitar mastery. He brought in fellow Sugar mate David Barbe to provide bass on a couple tracks and a couple drummers and a cellist, the rest is all Bob. Bob Mould rules!

"Circles"--Most of these songs seem to be about relationships, specifically a strong love lost. This track is one of those songs and a beautiful one. It's not a ballad, but a beautiful rock song: "My love, oh God, I am sorry for everything we've been through. When I cry I see millions of circles in the sky so blue." It is sung with a lot of passion. The ending sounds very familiar, but I can't figure out of which song it reminds me.
"(Shine Your) Light Love Hope": This track has the electronically-enhanced vocal that some of the songs on Modulate had (Cher used this technique, too, on her single "Believe"). This and "I am Vision, I am Sound" are the most "modulated" of the tracks here. There are only four lines of lyrics sung over and over but I didn't even notice it until I saw the booklet.
"Paralyzed": Very accessible, quick-moving track. It also has some cool keyboard stuff after the choruses. I like the line "So if I tried to make it right, and if I found my appetite I'd eat away at all the pain I seem to bring to you."
"I Am Vision, I Am Sound": Another track that would fit very well on Modulate with some electronically-enhanced vocals and driven by Mould's characteristic guitar sound. This track just flies!

"Underneath Days": The opening to this track is awesome. As soon as I heard it I was addicted! A meatier sound than some of the other tracks.
"Always Tomorrow": This track has a slower, lazy, relaxing feel. Mould sings softly here but the pounding drums keep the tempo up and the crashing in of the guitar keeps the listener awake throughout.
"Days of Rain": A kick-back track. Mould's soft vocals and lazy guitar create the mood that goes well with lines like "Day of rain, watch the river of tears roll by / Wash away the pain of several years go by." The cello is a nice touch.
"Best Thing": The tempo picks up here. A straight-forward rocker.

"High Fidelity": I really like this one; it's a very interesting-sounding track. I like the line "Oh can I be the only person who gets no fruit off the tree / Who could live with me in high fidelity?" It has almost a country guitar sound. I don't really care for the ding dong bells in the middle. They detract from the track which I think is, otherwise, very nice.
"Missing You": Straight-forward rocker. Nothing special.
"Gauze of Friendship": The lyrics are what set this song apart. Interesting at times ("Maybe a tattoo, or a name laid in the tile / I guess you think he's staying for awhile" "And mothers without fathers to help install the cupboards / Wrapped in the gauze of friendship anew") and silly at others ("But nothing matters / when hearts go pitter patter" "It's kind of funny / today it might be sunny"). I'm not sure I'm crazy about the track as a whole, but I like how the guitar crashes in near the end.
"Beating Heart the Prize": The previous two tracks were a bit weak, but this last one ends the CD on a killer note. While the wailing of some silly rhymes may have weakened the previous track, here Mould sings with strong conviction: "Get your ticket today / Make it all go away / Ticket off the world today / Make it all go away." A lot more restrained than some of his other album-ending tracks, but a strong one nonetheless.